For the first time since 2019, Sonoma Raceway has a repeat NASCAR Cup Series winner. Shane van Gisbergen returned to victory lane Sunday, defending his Toyota/Save Mart 350 crown with a commanding — and at times uncomfortable — performance for Trackhouse Racing.
Van Gisbergen led 59 laps on the 1.99‑mile road course, but despite the familiar result, the reigning Sonoma winner said the feel behind the wheel was anything but. After describing last year’s Chevrolet as “not perfect,” he expected the team’s new body style to smooth out lingering issues. Instead, he said, it amplified them.
“It did the opposite. It made them worse,” van Gisbergen admitted. “We were really hanging on, and Chase Briscoe at the end was really fast driving. I’m lucky it wasn’t two laps longer. He might have got us.”
Even so, the New Zealander kept the field at bay, including Elk Grove native Kyle Larson, who spent most of the afternoon inside the top five and ultimately finished fourth.
“I knew he was there,” van Gisbergen said. “We had some great racing at the start with Kyle, and I had a bit of speed on him then, but he was quick all day.”
Sonoma’s blend of motorsport and celebrity appearances was on full display as well. San Francisco 49ers cornerback Upton Stout served as an honorary official, MLB icon Dusty Baker delivered the traditional “Drivers, start your engines!” command, and former Golden State Warriors champion Festus Ezeli handled pace‑car duties. The cross‑sport presence has become a signature of the wine‑country stop.
Even the celebratory wine had a local tie: the bottle came from Ones by Sabonis, the brand owned by Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis. Van Gisbergen, however, joked that he’d stick with his usual preference.
“I’ll mix my Red Bull with something,” he said.
It was a far tougher afternoon for Corning native Tyler Reddick, who battled power‑steering problems and finished five laps down. The setback cost him the regular‑season points lead; he leaves Sonoma second in the standings, one point behind Denny Hamlin.
